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In last week’s Metro x We Like L.A. collab, we stitched together a rundown of upcoming holiday markets that are a) chock full of local, indie sellers and b) accessible by public transit. Of course, the thing about shopping is that shopping means spending. And spending, especially in this inflationary era, is bound to put a thumping on your wallet.
But you know what’s nice? Having a handy list of free things to do around the city in your back pocket so you can offset a few costs by trimming your entertainment budget. Hence, our fresh rundown of 40 days of freebies is right on time.
In view over the next month-plus, you can explore seasonal celebrations, holiday lights festivals, stand-up comedy shows, live talks, art activations, annual parades, workshops and lots more. All free, and (almost) all accessible by Metro bus or rail.
Let’s get you started below.
Free Things To Do
M = Metro Accessible
November 10-11: M Night Games brings back-to-back evenings of family-friendly, immersive gameplay to Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station OR take the A or E Lines to Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill Station.
November 11: M Hauser & Wirth hosts a performance by Puerto-Rican collective Poncili Creación as part of an exhibition programming series for Nonmemory. Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
November 11: M Creative Babe Market comes to the Original Farmers Market. Go Metro: Take Line 16 along W. 3rd St OR Take Line 217 or 218 along Fairfax Ave.
November 11: M The Ivy Station Night Market returns to help you holiday shopping at this autumnal edition of our monthly night market on the Ivy Station lawn in Culver City. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Culver City station.
November 11-12: M The annual Inglewood Open Studios art walk offers a mix of tours and talks at galleries and artists studios in the city of Inglewood. Go Metro: Take the K Line to Downtown Inglewood Station.
November 12: M The Santa Monica Pier hosts a community Wellness & Waves series on six select dates this fall. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
November 12: Check out the SoCal Zine Fest at Brewport Tap House in El Segundo.
November 12: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Phillip Levy (violin)
and Tae Yeon Lim (piano). Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
November 13: M Metro Art and the Silkroad Ensemble team up for Railroad Roots at Union Station, an evening of storytelling and live performances. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
November 13: M The Grove’s annual Tree Lighting Celebration runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Go Metro: Take Line 16 along W. 3rd St OR Take Line 217 or 218 along Fairfax Ave.
November 14: M Are You Still Listening? is a free monthly stand-up showcase at Dynasty Typewriter, presented by Netflix is a Joke Radio. Go Metro: Take the B or D Line to Westlake / MacArthur Park.
November 15: M Self Help Graphics Wellness Wednesdays are back at Latinx Plants in Boyle Heights, featuring an ancestor portrait workshop led by artist Dalila Paola Méndez. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Soto station.
November 15: 2023 Pier Lighting and Holiday Open House in Manhattan Beach Pier kicks off the holiday season in the South Bay.
November 15: M
November 16: M The November edition of All Space Considered brings Griffith Observatory curatorial staff as together for a discussion/presentation on the most-talked-about subjects in astronomy and space science. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Vermont/Sunset station then ride the DASH Observatory Shuttle (free to ride) to Griffith Observatory.
November 16: M The City of Santa Monica hosts their Official Holiday Tree Lighting Party, featuring live musical entertainment and a visit from Santa. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
November 16: M The 2023 edition of the holiday lights installation SPARKLE DTLA at The Bloc debuts with a special live performance, ugly sweater competition, and holiday treats. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
November 18: M The Great Los Angeles Walk returns for its 18th installment, beginning and ending the route at the Griffith Park bear statue on Los Feliz Blvd. Go Metro: Take Line 207 to Western/Franklin.
November 18: M It’s Alive! A Plant Based Horror Marketplace returns to Common Space Brewery. Go Metro: Take Line 209/210 to Crenshaw / El Segundo
November 18: M The Burbank Cultural Arts Commission hosts a Fall Festival at Johnny Carson Park (rescheduled from September 30) featuring food trucks, live performances, art vendors, and an outdoor screening of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Go Metro: Take Line 155 to Alameda & Bob Hope EB.
November 18: M The Santa Monica Pier hosts a community Wellness & Waves series on six select dates this fall. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
November 18: M Hauser & Wirth DTLA hosts an Intro To Relief Printing Creative Workshop. Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
November 18: M Ivy Station hosts a Pop-Up Mini Golf night. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Culver City Station.
November 18-19 – M Indie craft market Jackalope returns to Central Park in Old Pasadena for a two-day, pop-up marketplace with over 200 vendors. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Del Mar station.
November 18-19 M Renegade Craft market pops up for a day-two affair at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Chinatown station.
November 19: M The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade returns for its 44th edition, featuring an irreverent and oddball cast of characters marching down Colorado Blvd in Old Pasadena. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Memorial Park station.
November 19: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Althea Waites (piano). Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
November 20: M The 8th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and holiday concert comes to the South Patio at Union Station. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
November 24: M Ovation Hollywood hosts a Friday Movie Nights screening of The Year Without a Santa Claus (1976). Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland
November 25: M El Segundo’s outdoor mall The Point celebrates Small Business Saturday with a Sun & Sea Collective Pop Up Market. Go Metro: Take Line 125 to Rosecrans / Sepulveda OR Line 232 to Sepulveda / Rosecrans.
November 26: M The 91st Hollywood Christmas Parade returns on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland OR Hollywood / Vine station.
November 26: M Mayumi Market pops up with a holiday event at Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne. Go Metro: Take Line 209/210 to Crenshaw / El Segundo.
November 26: M The Bob Baker Marionette Theater and 826LA celebrate the opening of the Resizing Reality exhibit at the Time Travel Mart in Echo Park. Go Metro: Take Line 4 to Sunset / Echo Park.
November 26: M The Los Feliz Flea heads to the The Autry Museum for four consecutive Sundays of shopping pop-ups heading into the holiday season. Go Metro: Take Line 96 to Autry National Ctr.
November 26: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring YuEun Kim (violin) & Sung Chang (piano). Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
November 27: M L.A. County hosts a tree lighting ceremony with special holiday festivities at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station OR take the A or E Lines to Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill Station.
November 29: M Fowler Out Loud series presents a concert by the Game Music Ensemble. Go Metro: Take Line 602 to Westwood UCLA Amtrak Bus Stop OR take Line 2 to Hilgard / Wyton.
December 1: M The Uptown Village Holiday Market comes to the Expo Arts Center in Long Beach in conjunction with the Bixby Knolls First Fridays Art Walk. Go Metro: Take Line 60 to Long Beach / San Antonio.
December 2: M The Valley Cultural Foundation’s 2023 Holiday Arts & Music Festival comes to Warner Center Park. Go Metro: Take Lines 150/169 to Topanga Canyon / Marylee.
December 2: M The Holiday Kickoff Party at One Colorado. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Memorial Park station.
December 2: M The San Fernando Outdoor Market hosts a holiday edition of their monthly pop-up. Go Metro: Take Line 224, 234, or 294 to Truman St. / Brand Blvd.
December 2: M The Holidayfest on South Lake Ave in Pasadena offers a day of family activities, shopping deals, holiday music, and a Santa’s Village. Go Metro: Take Lines 177/267/662 to Del Mar / Lake.
December 2: M Conscious Market brings local, curated vendors to Santa Monica’s Third Street Market Promenade every first Saturday of the month, and come December they’ll be hosting a special holiday edition of the pop-up. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 3: M CicLAvia comes to South L.A. up with a 6-mile, car-free course along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd from Crenshaw to Central Av. Go Metro: Access the route by stops along three different Metro lines, including the A, E, and K Lines.
December 3: M
December 3: M Truly LA, Angel City Brewery, and Makeshift Muse team up for a Holiday Block Party in the Arts District. Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
December 3: Art at the Airport is a gallery open house event featuring the works of 20+ artists on display at an airplane hangar the Santa Monica Airport.
December 3: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Samuel Nebyu (violin) & Jacopo Giacopuzzi (piano). Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
December 6: M Fowler Out Loud series presents a concert by the UCLA Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. Go Metro: Take Line 602 to Westwood UCLA Amtrak Bus Stop OR take Line 2 to Hilgard / Wyton.
December 6: M The Silent Book Club of Death returns to Lawless Brewing in North Hollywood. Go Metro: Take the B Line or G (bus rapid) Line to North Hollywood station.
December 7: M DTLA ArtNight runs every first Thursday of the month, activating 25+ galleries along Downtown’s Historic Core. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Pershing Square station OR take the A or E or Lines to Historic Broadway Station.
December 8: M Movie Fridays on Third Street Promenade presents a screening of Die Hard. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 9: M The Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade returns for the 61st edition, offering musical entertainment, food trucks, and a pre-parade fireworks display. Go Metro: Take Line 108 to Mindanao / Lincoln.
December 9: M The December edition of the Canoga Park Block Party features 50+ vendors, including special holiday programming. Go Metro: Take Line 162 to Sherman Way / Owensmouth.
December 9: M Pawliday Market at PetSpace offers an array of pet-focused vendors plus sweet photo ops for you and your four-legged friends. Go Metro: Take Line 108/110 to Jefferson / Inglewood.
December 9: M The Getty celebrates the exhibition Alfredo Boulton: Looking at Venezuela (1928–1978) with a free jazz performance, discussion event, and complimentary bites. Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Getty Center Dr / Sepulveda Blvd.
December 9: M Creative Communal brings it’s brand of holiday market to Runway Playa Vista on two Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 110 to Jefferson / McConnell.
December 9-10: M Jackalope Indie Craft Market brings 175 vendors to Downtown Burbank over a two-day event. Go Metro: Take Line 92 to Magnolia / San Fernando OR Take Lines 154/165/294 to 1st / Magnolia.
December 10: M Museum of Latin American Art hosts a children’s Make Your Own Holiday Ornament workshop. Go Metro: Take the A Line to 5th Street station in Long Beach.
December 10: M A Snowy Wonderland offers a free day of holiday fun in Inglewood at Crenshaw Imperial Plaza. Go Metro: Take Line 209/10 to Crenshaw / Imperial OR Take the C Line to Crenshaw Station.
December 10: The El Segundo Holiday Parade returns with guests as the Grand Marshals… the 2023 El Segundo Little League World Series Championship Team!
December 10: M
December 14: M
December 16: M Creative Communal brings its brand of holiday market to Runway Playa Vista on two Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 110 to Jefferson / McConnell.
December 17: M
December 17: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Cristina Montes Mateo (harp) & Friends. Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
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